Stuart Hall arrives for sex abuse court appearance

The former It's A Knockout presenter will stand trial after he denied three charges of indecent assault dating from the 1970s and 1980s.

Appearing at Preston Magistrates' Court today under his full name, James Stuart Hall, he was asked if he wanted to enter a plea.

He replied: "Yes I do. Not guilty to all three charges."

Joanne Cunliffe, prosecuting, said the case should be sent to crown court because the charges are too serious to be dealt with at magistrates' court.

Hall is alleged to have indecently assaulted the 16 year-old between Sept 1 and Dec 31, 1974; an eight year-old between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 1983; and a 13 year-old between July 1, 1984 and Sept 27, 1984.

After the brief hearing, district judge Peter Ward granted Hall bail on condition that he lives at his home in Prestbury Road in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and has no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17.